Washing-machine



(No Model.)

G. W. GASTON.

WASHING MAGHINB. No. 431.691 Patented July 8, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES NV. GASTON, OF STAFFORD, KANSAS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent NO. 431,691, dated July 8, 1890.

Application tiled September 14, 1889. Serial No. 323,939. (No model.)

To all whom it may con/cern,.-

ter may be forced through the clothes inl-the tub, and the necessity of rubbing the clothes dispensed with.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a washing-machine constructed according to my improvements. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the pump-plunger removed. Fig. Ll is a sectional detail view of the plunger-head with one of the plungers fixed thereto. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail view of the outer shell or case of the pump.

Referring by letter to the said drawings, A indicates the tubA or main case, which is formed from sheet metal or other suitable material. This case is of a peculiar construction, having a vertical wall a., straight sides, and a curved bottom l), which extends from the base of the straight side a in a sweeping curvature to the top of the case. Fixed to the inner sides of the straight wall of the case is a series of tapering strips e, arranged at intervals, as shown, the taper or incline being from above downwardly. These strips jointly comprise a rubbing-surface for the clothing, y

which in operation is interposed between the same and the pump, which will be presently explained. I have found that by setting these strips c in the position shown, so as to allow a space back of them, means is provided whereby the water may freely circulate around them.

B indicates a gasoline-chamber, or chamber for holding a heating medium. This chamber is arranged, preferably, at the upper portion of one of the end walls, and from this chamber leads a pipe C, which, after passing down the end wall of the case, extends beneath its bottom, and is provided with a suitable number of jets, whereby the water in the case or tub may be heated.

D is a cock, whereby the impure water may be drawn from the case.

The case is mounted at a suit-able elevation upon legs or suitable means of support, and its top is provided with a cover, as shown.

E indicates a .pu1np, as I shall term it. This pump is composed of an outer case or shell F, of a length slightly less than the width of the machine, being equal to the capacity of the strips c, andv is adapted to receive the reciprocating plunger-head G. This head G is of a peculiar form, being adapted to fit within the casing or shell E, soas to move freely therein, and it is provided externally with a groove or recess e, and on the forward end or longitudinal portion it is provided with an elongated recess f, the walls of which are provided with perforations g, which establish a communication between the face recess and the groove e around the four external walls. y

-H indicates the plungers, there being preferably two employed, having their free or forward ends secured to the reciprocating head G. These plunger-rods I-I have a spring I surrounding them, one end of which bears upon the rear edge of the shell F and the opposite end against a movable collar K, which is also arranged upon the said rods H, and are adapted to be adjustably secured thereto by means of a set-screw L, passing through the said collar. These rods H are preferably of an angular form, as shown, and the upperv branches 7' are secured to a reciprocating or rock shaft M, which has its bearings in the end walls of the main case. From the opposite ends of this rock-shaft M extend an operating-handle N, which is in the form of a bail and in aconvenicnt position tobe grasped by the operator.

By the construction illustrated it will be seen that when the handle has been reciprocated and water is in the tub the water ICO will irst enter the shell F as the head G' has drawninv by the action of the springs, after which it will pass from the recess in thel said head through the apertures ginto the groove e, thereby forming a Water packing between the shell and the said head.

With a machine of this construction it will be seen that there is but little Wear upon the clothes being washed, as the principle of operation is to forcibly drive the Water through the clothing, instead of rubbing the latter, the clothing being held against the strips in the tub and the outer end of the shell F by the action of the springs surrounding the rods H when the operating-handle has been moved.

The machine I have illustrated is designed to be worked by hand; but it is obvious that it may be worked by other power without materially altering the construction.

' Having described my invention,V what I claimis l. In a washingmachine, the combination,

.with the case, of a reciprocating pump composed ofihe movable head having the face recess, grooves in its external walls, and perforations communicating between the grooves with the recess, a vshell receiving the said head, and spring-surrounded rods secured to the head, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the shell F, of the .head G, arranged therein, the rods H, secured 

